# forsake

/fɔɹˈseɪk/ (US) · /fɔːsˈeɪk/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/forsake
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

to leave someone or something behind for good. It is an old-fashioned word that you might see in stories or poems.

For teachers: to leave behind or abandon permanently. Often used in literary or formal contexts to describe a deliberate and final departure.

## Examples

- He was willing to forsake his old life for a new adventure.
- The knight was forced to forsake his family and his home to join the king's army.
- In many ancient myths, the protagonist must forsake their former identity to achieve a higher state of being or to fulfill a divine prophecy.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.